Terry Gross

Former SNL cast member Martin Short. Though he only spent one season with the show (1984) he left a lasting impression with his characters such as Ed Grimley Jr., the cowlicked dork, and his impersonations of Katherine Hepburn and Jerry Lewis. Since then he's appeared in a number of films: "Father of the Bride" and "Father of the Bride 2" (as a flamboyant party planner) and "Mars Attacks." He also had a short-lived prime time TV show, "The martin Short Show" His latest film is "A Simple Wish" (REBROADCAST from 7/7/97)

Comedian Chris Rock. He got his start in show business performing stand-up routines in Manhattan. He spent three years on Saturday Night Live and appeared in a few films including the recent Beverly Hills Ninja. He also had a comedy and talk-show series, "The Chris Rock Show" on HBO. (REBROADCAST from 2/6/97)

Comedian Jon Lovitz. He played the pathological liar on SNL among other characters such as Annoying Man and Harry Chanukah. (REBROADCAST from 4/28/92)

For more than 40 years, Phyllis Diller has made a career out of her own poor looks, and the exploits of her bumbling, imaginary, husband, Fang. Diller paved the way for an entire generation of female comics. (Rebroadcast from 7.1.86.)

Comedy writer Alan Zweibel. He was one of the original writers for "Saturday Night Live." He discusses his 14 year friendship with Gilda Radner whom he met at SNL and teamed up with to create such memorable characters as Roseanne Roseannadanna and Emily Litella. Zweibel has written a memoir about their friendship, called "Bunny Bunny: Gilda Radner: A Sort of Love Story" (Villard Books), which has since been turned into a play. He also worked on "The Gary Shandling Show." (Rebroadcast from 8.3.89).

Comedian Joan Rivers did stand up comedy for years. She was a guest host for "The Tonight Show" and has also hosted her own talk show. In this interview from 1991, Rivers discusses her memoir, called "Still Talking." (Random House). (Rebroadcast from 11.08.91.)

Veteran stand-up comedian Henny Youngman. When this interview first aired in 1991, Youngman had just published a new memoir, called "Take My Life, Please." (Morrow). (Rebroadcast from 10.18.91.)

Country music star George Jones. He's widely acclaimed as one of the greatest country singers, but his 40-year career has also been marked by alcohol and drug abuse. When this interview first aired, he had recently published his autobiography, "I Lived to Tell it All" (Villard, New York). (Originally aired May 8, 1996)

Former U.S. Senator George McGovern. Last year his book "Terry: My Daughter's Life and Death Struggle with Alcoholism." was published. (Villard) After a night of drinking in December of 1994, Terry was found dead in a parking lot near her home in Madison, Wisconsin. Terry's addiction plagued her almost her entire life, despite countless efforts at rehabilitation. The book draws upon Terry's letters and journals, interviews with loved ones, and medical and police records. (Originally aired 6/11/96)

Historian Dan Carter. His book, Scottsboro was the winner of the Bancroft Prize in History in the category of American History. Carter discusses his biography of George Wallace, The Politics of Rage: George Wallace, The Origins of the New Conservatism, and the Transformation of American Politics. (Simon & Schuster). In the book Carter contends that Wallace paved the way for the conservatism that is now a big part of Republican politics. Carter is Kenan Professor of History at Emory University. (Originally aired February 6, 1996)